Zigzag sewing machine with fancystitch selector



W. ENGEL July 10, 1962 ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE WITH FANCY-STITCH SELECTOR4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1960 r nny QQ .ww Km mm W. ENGEL July10, 1962 ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE WITH FANCY-STITCH SELECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Feb.

July 10, 1962 ENGEL 3,043,252

ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE WITH FANCY-STITCH SELECTOR Filed Feb. 10, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 3 July 10, 1962 w. ENGEL 3,043,252

ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE WITH FANCY-STITCH SELECTOR Filed Feb. 10, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,043,252 ZIGZAG SEWENG MAC WITHFANCY- STITCH SELECTGR Wolfgang Engel, Bielefeld, Germany, assignor toAndre!- Phoenix Nahmasciiinen AG, Bielefeld, Germany, a corporation ofGermany Filed Feb. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 7,938 Claims priority, applicationGermany June 13, 1959 16 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) My invention relates toautomatic zigzag sewing machines with fancy-stitch selector.

In a known sewing machine of this type, the stitch selector comprises abuilt-in set of control cams cooperating with a cam follower that, forthe purpose of cam selection, is manually displaceable in the axialdirection after being manually lifted off the cams.

In another known zigzag sewing machine with a builtin set of controlcams, the lateral deflections of the needle bar are controlled by a camfollower, and the movements of the material feeder in the base plate ofthe machine are conjointly controlled by another follower coacting witha second set of cams. For changing the stitch selection, the twofollowers are first moved by a manual member out of engagement with therespective two cam sets, and are thereafter shifted to a new position byactuation of a second manual member. A pointer connected with the secondmember indicates the selected stitch pattern on a stationarily mountedscale of indicia.

Also known is a zigzag sewing machine with an exchangeable set of camsas well as a built-in cam set. This machine has a manual adjustingmember in synchronous driving connection with a drum equipped withfeeler' pins as well as an indicator scale representing the selectablestitch patterns. When changing the selection, the manual control membermust first be displaced in axial direction and, while being thus keptdisplaced, must be turned about its axis.

In another known zigzag sewing machine, comprising built-in as well asexchangeable earns, the manual adjusting member for selecting a cam isjournalled on a swing member and participates in the needle-baroscillations during sewing operation in synchronism with the selectedcam disc. The visible sides of the exchangeable set of cams carrysymbols and numbers. When the exchangeable set of cams is inserted inthe machine, only the symbols or numbers on the side facing theseamstress can be read. However, since some of these indicia are in aslanting position and others are turned 180, and also since the markingson the rear side of the cam set are not visible at all, the properselection is inconvenient and may involve errors. For that reason, whenselecting the rear cam disc, it is sometimes necessary to first make asewing test in order to ascertain which particular sewing pattern isproduced by the particular cam disc.

It is an object. of my invention to devise a zigzag sewing machine whosestitch-pattern selector devices, in contrast to those heretofore known,are considerably simplified with respect to the attention to be given bythe operating person when changing the machine from one type or patternof stitch to another, so as to make the use of the machine as easy andfoolproof as possible without thereby limiting the number or variety ofstitch selections.

To this end, and in accordance with a feature of my invention, I providethe stitch selector devices, in a zigzag sewing machine having aplurality of stitch and/or feed control cams for selective cooperationwith a cam follower, with a single exteriorly accessible manual controlmember which, for normal operation, is movable along only one given pathof motion and has a number of predetermined rest or catch positionscorresponding to respectively difierent stitch selections; and I furtherprovide this member with a lifter cam and a selector cam of mutuallycorrelated cam contours which, as the manual member is being moved fromone to the next position, first disengage the follower from the cams,then axially displace the follower relative to the cams or vice versa,and thereafter reestablish the cam-follower engagement.

According to another feature of my invention, I provide the set ofstitch-control cams with a group of cams for controlling the lateraldeflections of the needle bar and with another group of cams forcontrolling the motion of the material feeder, the two cam groups of thesingle set being correlated to respective two cam followers so that anyselection of a lateral-deflection control cam is accompanied by acorrelated selection of one of the respective feed control cams; and Icooperatively connect the above-mentioned lifter cam with the camfollowers of both cam groups for simultaneously disengaging them fromthese groups during a given interval of displacing motion performed bythe manual control member when being shifted from one to the nextposition of rest.

According to still another feature of the invention, the single pathalong which the manual control member is movable for stitch selection isa rotationalmovernent about the axis of the manual member, and the setof stitch-control cams, the lifter cam and the selector cam are allmounted in coaxial relation to the rotatable manual member.

According to a further feature of my invention, the set of control camsincluding, as the case may be, a group of deflector-control cams as wellas a correlated group of feeder control cams, is exchangeable as asingle unit and is removably coupled with the manual control memherwhich, in turn, is mounted on the machine frame structure and, whenbeing shifted or turned between its predetermined rest positions, iscoupled with the exchangeable set of cams.

By virtue of the xchangeability of the cam set in accordance with thejust-mentioned features, each of the available, different sets of camscan be provided with corresponding indicating symbols so that in eachcase only those symbols are visible to, and need be observed by, theseamstress whose correlated cams are inserted into and active in themachine, thus securing a reliable and virtually foolproof operation ofthe stitch-selector machinery.

The above-mentioned and more specific objects, advantages and featuresof the invention, said features being set forth with particularity inthe claims annexed hereto, will be apparent from, and will be mentionedin, the following with reference to the embodiment of a zigzag sewingmachine according to the invention illustrated by way of example on theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine.

FIG. 2 illustrates separately a lifter cam in section along the line11-11 in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a lateral View and a part-sectional top view ofdetails relating to manual means for setting the stitching length andstitching direction.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of the sewing machine along line VVin FIG. 1, seen from the side of the machine drive.

FIG. 6 illustrates in cross section a detail relating to a cam ejectorlatch, the section being along the line VIVI in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the fancy-stitch con- 1) which isalso operable manually.

. 3 trol assembly, the section being taken along the line VIIVII in FIG.1.

FIG. 8 shows part of the same assembly as FIG. 7 7

in a different operating position of the appertaining set of controlcams. I

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rotatable manual control member forfancy-stitch selection including a litter cam and a selector cam, seenfrom the interior of the sewing machine. 1

FIG. 10 shows the same fancy-stitch control assembly as FIGS. 7 and 8 ina part-sectional view seen from above.

'FIG. 11 is a front view of the rotational manual control member in theposition required for exchanging the set of control cams.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the sewing machine showing the variousmanual controls accessible and op- V erable from the outside.

Journalled inside and longitudinally of the hollow arm structure 1 ofthe sewing machine head is a main drive shaft 2 (FIGS. 1, 5, 7, 10) witha driving wheel 3 (FIG. The main shaft 2, acting through a crank and aconnecting rod (not illus-v trated) causes the needle bar 4 of themachine to reciprocate vertically in glide bearings of a swing arm 5which is oscillatable about a pivot pin 6 mounted in the armstructure 1. The arm structure 1 is open at the front and at the top andis normally closed at both places by a front cover 7 and a top cover 8(FIGS. 1, 12). V

Firmly mounted on the main shaft 2 is an eccentric of the two earns 41and 41a are similar and are angularly displaced from each other the sameamount as the feeler projections of lever 30 relative to the cam centeraxis of shaft 40. In the rotational position of cams 41 and 41a shown inFIG. 3 the feeler lever 30/31a is in its midposition and the two feelerprojections are in contact with the respective cam lobes so that the thefeeler lever 30/31a cannot be turned about the pivot pin 38 by means ofthe stitch-direction control knob 35. The stitchlength control knob 39on shaft 48 can now be turned to the position in which the mark islocated opposite the mark 3 4a (FIG. 12) on the standard 34. 'Thecontour of cams 41 and 41a ascends radially outward at 41' and 41'a(FIG. 3) in a gradual manner to gradually merge with a lobe portion ofgreater steepness.

By virtue of such cam configuration, small stitching machine.

9 (FIGS, 1, 5, 10) for driving a'material feeder 10 (FIGS. 1, which istransversely displacea'ble in a slot of the machine base plate 15. Theeccentric 9 is straddled by a fork lever 11 which is linked by a pin 12.with a crank 13 (FIGS. 1, 5) on a feed-control shaft 14 journalled inthebase plate 15. Mounted on the lefthan d end (FIG. 1) of shaft 13 isanother crank 16 which extends substantially vertically upward and whoseupper end is straddled by a bifurcated feedbar 17. Bar 17 carriestheserrated feeder and is linked with crank 16 by a pin 18. a V

Riveted into the forked lever 11 is a pivot pin 19 (FIGS. 1, 5 whichcarries a slider block 20 movable in the guideway 22 of a slide member23. The slide member 23 has a pivot pin 22 journalled in the machinehousing. A lever 24 is fastened to the end of pin 22 and carries aspherical pin 25 (FIGS. 5, 1) straddled by a pusher rod 26. The lowerend of rod 26 base longitudinal slot 27 (FIGS. 1, 3) and is biased by apull spring 42(FIG. 5) so that the top of slot 27 abuts against a pin 28(FIGS. 1, 3,4, 5). The pin 28 has an eccentric portion rotatable in thehub 31 of a feeler lever (FIGS. 3, 4). One end of the pin 28 protrudesout of the upright standard portion 34 of the machine housing, passingthrough a slot '37 (FIGS. 4, 5, 12). The eccentric position of the pin2.8 can be set and fixed by means of a set screw '32 (FIG. 4). The endof pin 28,.protruding out of the machine housing, carries on .theoutside a stitch-direction control knob '35 fastened by a set screw 36.The pin. 28 and the pusher rod 26 are axially secured in position bymeans of spring rings 29, 33 (FIG. 4). v

' The feeler lever 30 is pivotally mounted on a stationar y pin 38fastened tothe housing structure 34 of the ona short shaft 40 which isrotatably mounted in the standard portion 34 of the machinehousing andwhich 7 carries a stitch-length adjusting knob 39 on its outwardlyprotruding end (FIGS. 4, 5, 12). The cam contours 'by means of screwbolts 46 (FIG. 10).

sleeve displacements.

lengths can be very accurately adjusted as is desirable when sewingforward and reverse for producing the sidebar portions of buttonholes.

A worm 42 (FIGS. 7, 8) fastened on main shaft 2 meshes with a worm gear43 on a control shaft 44 which extends horizontally within the armstructure of the The control shaft 44 is journalled in a bearing block45 ('FIGS. 7, 8, 10) and is prevented from axial displacement by ashoulder ring 47 ('FIGS. 7, 8) fastened to shaft 44 by means of a bolt48. The bearing block 45 is attached to the wall of the machine arm 1The right-hand free end of the control shaft 44 (relative to FIG. 7) isprovided with a peripheral group of longitudinal teeth 49 whose numberis equal to the transmission ratio between worm 427and worm gear 43.Slidingly mount- 7 ed on the: toothed portion 49 of control shaft 44 isa sleeve 50 with corresponding longitudinal teeth meshing with the teeth49 to prevent the sleeve 50 from rotating relative to the control shaft.44 while permitting axial Mounted on sleeve 50 are a number of coaxialstitchpattern control cams 51 to 57. The cams 5'1, 52 and 53 serve toautomatically control the lateral needle-bar oscillations imparted tothe swing arm 5 (FIG..1). The cam 54 likewise produces lateraloscillations of the needle bar swing arm 5. The cam discs 55, 56 and 57,however, control the operation of the material feeder device. The earns51 to 57 on sleeve 58 preferably consist of synthetic plastic. All thesecams are rigidly fastened to the sleeve 50 by means of screw bolts 58.

-Also coaxially mounted on sleeve 50 but rotatable .relative thereto isa ring'member 60 ('FIG. 7) which is prevented by a spring ring 61 fromaxial displacement. The ring member 60 has a peripheral portion whichextends to the right (FIG.,7) axially beyond the sleeve 50 and carrieson'its outward end a symbol indicator disc 62. (FIGS. 7, 8, 11, 12).Disc 62 is fastened to ring member 60 by pins 63. Another pin 64protrudes radially out of the ring member 60 to which it is fastened bya screw 65. The pin 64 prevents the indicator disc 62 from rotatingduring rotation of sleeve 50 and control cams 51 to 57. 7

As mentioned, the earns 51 to 54 impart lateral oscillatory deflectionsto the needle-bar swing arm 5 (FIG.

1). These lateral motions are transmitted to the swing arm 5 by a camfollower 66 (FIGS. 1; 10) fastened on a pivot pin '67 which is rotatablymounted in thebearing block 45. The follower 66 abuts against a selectedone of the cams 51 to 54 under the biasing force of a spring (FIG. 1).Fastened to the free end of the pivot pin 67 is a slide member 68 (FIGS.10, 1) which possesses a curved glideway 69 in which a slider block 71is displaceable. The slider 71 is journalled on a pivot pin 70 rivetedto a pull rod 72 which is linked by a pin 73 (-FIG. 1) with theneedlebar swing arm 5. The pin 70 can be placed in coaxial registry withthe pivot pin 67 (FIGS. 1, 10). With such an adjustment, the cam 51'('FIG. 1) does not impart any lateral deflections to the swing arm 5,and the sewing machine produces straight stitches. However, the pin 70can be displaced downwardly (-FIG. 1) along the glideway 69 of slidemember 68 with the result that the swing arm 5 is caused to oscillateand'to impart a lateral movement to the needle bar up to the availablemaximum deflection. The just-mentioned displacement of pin 70 iseffected by means of a handle 79 (-FIGS. 5, 10, 12) which is mountedoutside of the machine-arm structure 1 on a shaft 78. The shaft 78(FIGS. 1, 5, is journalled in the structure 1 and carries an arm 77linked to a pull rod 72 by pivot pins 74, 76 and a linking member 75.

The cam 55 (FIGS. 8, 1, 2), or any other selected cam 56, 57, controlsthe motion of the feeder 10 by means of a cam follower 81 designed as alever which is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 82 fastened to thebearing block 425. A lever arm 83 (*FIGS. 10, 1, 5) is rotatable on thehub 81a (FIG. 10) of the follower lever 81). The :arm 83 carries a setscrew 84 passing through a slit of the follower 81. The set screw 84serves for adjusting the angular position of arm 83 with respect tofollower 81, both forming together an angular composite lever structure.The end of lever arm 83 carries a spherical pin 84a straddled by theupper portion.

of a pull rod 85 (FIGS. 1, 10). The lower end of rod 85 straddles aspherical pin 86 fastened to an angle piece 87 which is connected byscrews 88 (FIG. 5) with the glide-way members 25. The feed-controlfollower 81 is forced against the contour of cam 55 (56 or 57) by thebiasing action of the spring 42 (FIG. 5).

By the action of the above-described cam mechanisms, the sewing machinecan automatically produce controlled fancy stitches. For such automaticoperation, the cams 41 and 41a on shaft 40 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4) must beturned manually by means of knob 39 (FIGS. 5, 4) to such an extent thatthe top end of slit 27 (FIG. 3) in pusher rod 26 (FIGS. 3, 4, 1, 5 doesnot come into contact with the eccentric pin 28 (FIGS. 3', 4), such aposition of cams 40 and 41a being illustrated in FIG' 1. In order tohave the stitching area, that is the position of the forward and reversestitches during automatic control of the feed motion, symmetricallylocated with respect to the Zero position, the angular position of thefollower lever 81 with lever arm 83 can be varied during sewingoperation. For this purpose, the lever arm 83 (FIGS. 1, 10) has alateral lug 89 which carries a set screw 90 normally locked by a counternut 91. The set screw 90 abuts against the follower lever 81. Afterloosening the set screw 90 and the nut 91, the automatically controlledforward and reverse stitches can be adjusted by turning the set screw90. This can also be done while the machine is in operation. v Aftercompleting the adjustment, the set screw 90 is to be locked by means ofthe counter nut 91. V

The follower 66 (FIG. 10) for lateral needle-bar deflection is spacedfrom the follower 81 (FIGS. 10, l) for feed control a distance equal tofour cam widths of the cam set 51 to 57 (FIG. 7). By axially displacingthe sleeve 50 with the cam set 51 to 57 on control shaft 44, a doubleselection is simultaneously made, namely a selection of a cam forlateral deflection control of the needle bar and also a selection of acorrelated cam for controlling the operation of the material feeder 19.The arrangement of the cams in set 51 to 57 is such that three cams 51,52, 53 for lateral needle-bar deflection are correlated to threerespective cams 55, 56, 57 for feed control (FIG. 8), whereas the fourthZigzag stitch-producing cam 54, when selected for controlling thelateral deflections of the needle-bar swing arm 5, does not coact withany feed control cam. When the cam set is displaced axially to such anextent that the zigzag control cam 54 cooperates with the follower 66for lateral needle-oar deflection (FIG. 7), the top end of slit 27 inpusher rod 26 places itself, under the force of spring 42, against thepin 28 (FIG. 4) because the follower lever 81 for feed control is notnow confronted with any cam disc (FIG. 7).

6 With this cam adjustment, the stitching length and the feed can beadjusted by hand.

As is apparent from FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, the entire set of cams 51 to 57,inclusive of the symbol indicator disc 62, can be exchanged for anotherset. If desired, of course, more or fewer than three control cams may beprovided for lateral stitch control and also for feed control.

The changes in adjustment of the sewing machine between difierent zigzagstitches, embroidery stitches, button-hole sewing, straight stitches, aswell as the adjustment required for removing or inserting a setofcontrol cams, are all effected by means of a single manual member 92consisting, in the illustrated embodiment, of a ring-shaped knob 92. Therotary knob 92 is mounted in a flange bearing 98 (FIG. 10) which isfastened by screws 99 and 99a on the arm structure of the machine. Theringshaped member 92 carries two cams 93 and 94 (FIG. 9) which areformed as a single integral piece of metal coaxially fastened to themanual member 92 by screws 95 (FIGS. 7, 9). The double cam 93, 94 isfastened to the member 92 after the member is inserted into the flangebearing 98. The cam 9.3,hereinafter called lifter cam, cooperates with alifter pin 101 (FIGS. 7, 8) which is rigidly secured to the feed controlfollower 81, and also cooperates with a second lifter pin (FIG. 10)which is rigidly fastened to the follower 66 for control of the lateralneedle-bar deflections. The respective contours of cams 93 and 94 are sointerrelated and the spacing between the two lifter pins 100 and 101peripherally along these cams is so chosen that both followers 66 and 81are simultaneously lifted by the lifter cam 93 away from the controlcams 51 to 57, or are simultaneously returned into engagement with thesecams due to manual rotation of the knob member 92.

The cam 94 (FIGS. 9, 7, 8), hereinafter called selector cam fordistinction, is engaged by the abovementioned pin 64 (FIGS. 7, 8). Byturning the manual member 92, the stepped contour of selector cam 94(FIG. 9) causes the sleeve 59 with the entire set of control cams 51 to57 to be axially displaced step by step, each step corresponding to thethickness of a single cam. Such' displacement takes place as soon as thelifter cam 93 has lifted the two followers 66 and 81 off the set ofcams. The rotary motion of the manual member 92 from one step to theother is defined by catch positions. For this purpose, several stopgrooves 96 (FIG. 9) are distributed over the inner periphery of thering-shaped member 92, and are engaged by steel balls 113 (FIGS. 7, 8)under the biasing action of a leaf spring 112. The strength of thearresting force active in each of the available stop positions can beadjusted by means of a set screw 114 which controls the biasing force ofthe spring 112.

For exchanging the set of cams, the rotary member 92 is to be manuallyturned to a position in which the marker line 116 (FIG. 11) on member 92registers with the zero symbol 0 on the symbol indicator disc 62 of thecam set. In this position of manual member 92, the lifter curve 93 hasremoved the two followers 66 and 81 from the control cams (FIG. 2).Under the action of a spring 117 (FIG. 10), an angular lever pivoted ona pin 111 in arm structure 1, is turned to a position in which a linkingmember 198, joined by a pin 109 with the lever 110 and guided by a pin107 in a slot 97 (FIG. 9) of the cam structure 94, places the pin 64-into engagement with a latch pawl 102 (FIGS. 6, 7). The latch pawl. 102is mounted on the flange bearing 98 by means of a-pivot pin 103 (FIG.6). A helical spring (FIG. 7) seated on pin 103 always forces the latchnose of the pawl 102 downwardly and thus locks the cam set from beingdisplaced axially. Fastened by a screw 106 on the inner Wall of the topcover 8 is a leaf spring 105 (FIGS. 7, 6) whose free end carries a pushbutton 104 protruding out of the top cover 8. When the cam set is placedinto the exchange position described above by turning the manual member62 to the zero position illustrated in FIG. 11, the

. in proper position.

' actuation of the push button 104 causes the pawl102 to turn againstthe action of spring 115 out of the range of latch pin 64. This releasesthe axial locking of the cam set, and the cam set, acted upon by aspring 117 (FIG. 1,0) through the bell-crank lever 110 and'the link108,is axially displaced on control shaft 44 so that it will jump partiallyout of the ring-shaped knob member 92 to a position from which it can beconveniently removed. During this operation, the tongue of the linkpasses through the slit 97 (FIG. 9) in selector cam 94. This preventsthe manual member 92 from being turnedwhen no set of cams is inserted. h

To facilitate inserting a cam set, the outer end of the control shaft 94is rounded (44a in FIG. 8) and the front ends of the coupling teeth arebevelled. As a result, a

' manual control member act upon one or more cam. folsleeve 50 with aset of control cams can readily be shoved .onto the shaft, 44. The setof cams may simply be held at the ring 69 or at the handle 62a joinedwith the indi cator disc 62, and when the sleeve is being inserted itneed only be observed that the pin 64 points upwardly and passes intothe groove or slit97. By pushing the set of cams against the force ofspring .117, the pin 64 catches behind thelatch nose of pawl ,102 andthus locks'the set When thereafter the manual member '92 is turned to adesired zigzag or embroidery-stitch position, the latch pin 64,actingalso as a follower with I respect to the selector cam 94, is displacedby cam 94- in'the axial direction and in opposition to the spring 117.

It will be understood from the foregoing that simply by turning thesingle manual member 92 from one rest position to the other, thefollowing operations are simultaneously controlled. 7

(1) The followers 66 and 81 for automatic needle-bar and feed controlare lifted olf the control cams.

(2,) The set of control cams is axially displaced so that the camscorresponding to the selected stitch pattern are i in registry with therespective two followers.

(3) The two cam followers for automatic needle bar and feed control arelowered onto the active contours of the control cams.

(4) The selected stitch pattern is indicated on the sym- F bol disc.

' (5) Simultaneous switching fi'om automatic needle-bar and feed controlto manual control of needle-bar and feed motion.

'After turning the manual member 92 to the zero position for exchange ofa cam set, the set previously contained in the machine is released bypush-button actuation ani is automaticallyejected to a removingposition; thereafter, when inserting a desired other set of cams, thisset is constrainedly and automatically latched in the proper position.

If desired, the selector cam 54, normally designed for producing zigzagstitches that are variable under control by the manual lever 79, canalso be employed as fancystitchwcontrol cam. This has the'particularadvantage that fancy or embroidery stitches can be additionally variedunder the effect of the manually adjustable opera tion of the materialfeeder 1-0.

, The illustrated fancy-stitch selector devices of the machine alsoaiford the sewing of buttonholes. By cor .7

a responding-design of the control cams 51 to 53 relating to the lateralneedle motion, and the control earns 55 to 57 for controlling the feeder10, the individual side bars and transverse stitches that make u-pthebuttonhole pattern canbe automatically controlled and the cam disc 54is'then availablefor controlling the sewing-over opera- 7 tion, ifdesired in conjunction with an additional. cam disc. The manual controlmember 92 is then turned from position'to position in order to place.the various groups of control cams into operation.

While in the embodiment described above, the single manual controlmember 92 for jointly selecting a type of stitch is rotatable on asingle given path defining a single plane, itishouldbe understood thatthe above-explained skilled in the art, upon a study of thisdisclosure,'so that my invention can be given embodimentsother than particularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from theessential features of the invention and within the scopeof the claimsannexed hereto.

Iclaim. j

1. A zigzag sewing machine, comprising a needle bar, a stitch-patterncontrol mechanism having a set of coaxially rotatable control cams-forautomatic control of fancy-stitch patterns and a cam followeroperatively con nected with said needle bar and movable into an activeposition in engagement with a selected oneof said cams and into aninactive position out of engagement therewith, said set and saidfollowerbeing axially displaceable rela-v tive to each other for camselection, a manually actuable control member movable in a single pathof-planar motion and having given positions of rest spaced from eachother along said path, stitch-pattern indicator means with which saidmanual member coacts .to indicate different stitch patterns in saidrespective positions, alifter cam and a selector cam having a'givencam-contour relation to each other and being both connected withisaidmember to move together therewith, said lifter cam being operativelyconnected with said follower for lifting the latter off said cam setonly when said member isbeing moved between one and the next one of saidpositions, and means cooperatively associated with said selector cam toimpart one step of relative displacement between said cam set and saidfollower when said follower is thus lifted.

tern control mechanism having an exchangeable set of coaxially rotatablecontrolcams corresponding to a desired fancy-stitch sewing operation anda cam follower operatively connected with said needle bar and movableinto an active positionin engagement with a selected one of said camsand into inactive position out'of engagement th'erewith, said set andsaid follower being axially dis placeable relative to each other for camselection, a mannally actuable control member axially fixed androtatable about its axis to given positions of rotation, stitchindicator means with which said member coacts to indicate differentstitch types in said respective positions, a lifter cam and aselector-cam having" a given cam-contour relation to each other andbeing both connected with said member in coaxial relation thereto torotate together with said member about said axis, said lifter cam beingconnected with said follower for lifting the latter oif said cam setwhen said member is being moved from position to position, and'meansoperatively associated with said selector cam to impart relative axialdisplacement between said set and said follower when said follower isthus lifted.

3. A zigzag sewing machine, comprising a. stitch-pat- 2. A'zig'zagsewing machine, comprisingiastitch-pattern control mechanism having aset of coaxially rotatable control cams and a cam follower normally inengagement with a selected one of said cams, said set and said followerbeing axially displaceable relative to each other for cam selection, amanually actuable control member mounted in coaxial relation to said camset and rotatable about the cam axis to given positions of rest,stitch-pattern indicator means with which said manual member coacts toindicate different stitch patterns in said respective positions, alifter cam and a selector cam both having generally annular shape andextending in coaxial relation to said member, said lifter cam and saidselector cam being rigidly joined with said member to be rotationallydisplaced together therewith, means engaging said lifter cam andconnected with said follower for lifting it off said cam set when saidmember is being moved between one and the next one of said positions,and means engaging said selector cam for imparting relative axialdisplacement to one of said set and follower respectively when saidfollower is lifted.

4. A zigzag sewing machine, comprising a needlebar deflecting mechanismwith a plurality of different deflector control cams and a cam followerconnected with said deflecting mechanism and normally in engagement withone of said respective deflector control cams, a material feed mechanismwith a plurality of different feed control cams and a cam followerconnected with said feed mechanism and normally in engagement with oneof said respective feed control cams, a handle member accessibleexteriorily of the machine and manually displaceable on a given planarpath, said handle member having given positions ofrest spaced from eachother along said path, stitch indicator means with which said membercoacts to indicate different stitch types in said respective positions,a lifter cam and a selector cam having a given cam-contour relation toeach other and being both joined with said member to be moved togethertherewith, means connecting said lifter cam with said two cam followersfor temporarily lifting'both of them off said deflector control cams andsaid feed control cams whensaid manual member passes from one to anotherone of said given positions, and means coacting with said selector camfor shifting said control cams relative to said two cam followers whensaid followers are thus lifted, whereby said lifter cam and saidselector cam place said two followers into engagement with a differentone of said deflector control cams and a correlated different one ofsaid feed control cams.

5. A zigzag sewing machine, comprising a needlebar deflecting mechanismwith a plurality of different deflector control cams and a cam followerconnected with said deflecting mechanism and normally in engagement withone of said respective deflector control cams, a material feed mechanismwith a plurality of different feed control cams and a cam followerconnected with said feed mechanism and normally in engagement with oneof said respective feed control cams, a manually actuable control memberaxially fixed and rotatable about its axis to given positions ofrotation, stitch indicator means with which said member coacts toindicate different stitch types in said respective positions, a liftercam and a selector cam having a given cam-contour relation to each otherand being both connected with said member in coaxial relation thereto torotate together with said member about said axis, said lifter cam beingconnected with said two cam followers for temporarily lifting both ofthem oif said deflector control cams and said feed control cams whensaid manual member passes from one to another one of said givenpositions, and mean-s coacting with said selector cam for shifting saidcontrol cams relative to said two cam followers when said followers arelifted, whereby said lifter cam and said selector cam place said twofollowers into engagement with a different one of said de- 6. A zigzagsewing machine, comprising a needlebar deflecting mechanism having ashaft rotatable in fixed relation to the sewing operation, anexchangeable set of control cams corresponding to a desired fancy-stitchsewing operation coaxially mounted on said shaft in nonrot-atable butaxially displaceable connection therewith, a cam follower havinga fixedpivot axis and being normally in engagement with a selected one of saidcams to derive needle deflecting motion therefrom, a handle memberaccessible exteriorly of the machine and manually displaceable on asingleplanar path, said handle member having given positions of restspaced from each other along said path, stitch indicator means withwhich said member coacts to indicate different stitch types in saidrespective positions, a lifter cam and a selector cam having a givencam-contour relation to each otheroand being both connected with saidmember to be moved together I therewith, means connecting said liftercam with said follower for lifting it off said cam set when said memberis being moved between two adjacent ones of said positions, and meansengaging said selector cam and connected with said cam set for axiallydisplacing it on said shaft relative to said follower when said followeris lifted.

7. A zigzag sewing machine, comprising a needlebar deflecting mechanismwith a plurality of different deflector control cams and a cam followerconnected with said deflecting mechanism and normally in engagement withone of said respective deflector control cams, a material feed mechanismwith a plurality of different feed control cams and a cam followerconnected with said feed mechanism and normally in engagement with oneof said respective feed control cams, a shaft rotatable in fixedrelation to the sewing operation, said deflector control cams and saidfeed control cams being coaxially seated on said shaft to rotatetogether therewith and forming together a single set axiallydisplaceable on said shaft for cam selection, a ringsshaped' handlemember rotatable about the axis of said shaft and having a centeropening through which said cam set is exchangeably insertable, saidmember being manually rotatable between given positions of rest, alifter cam and a selector cam having a given cam-contour relation toeach other and being both connected with said member in coaxial relationthereto to rotate'together with said member about said axis, meansengaging said lifter cam and connected with said two followers forlifting both ofi said cam set when said member is being moved 7 cam sethaving means engaging said selector cam for axially displacing said seton said shaft when said followers feed control cams.

are lifted, whereby said lifter cam and said selector cam place said twofollowers into engagement with a different one of said deflector controlcams and acorrelated dilferent one of said feed control cams when saidhandle member is being rotated from one to the next position of rest.

8. A zigzag sewing machine according to claim 7, comprising anotherdeflector control cam selectively engageable with said cam follower ofsaid needle bar deflecting mechanism in a given position of rest of saidhandle member, said cam follower of said feed mechanism being idle whensaid handle member is in said given position, and manually operable feedcontrol means connected with said fed mechanism when said handle memberis in said given position, whereby the machine is set for manual feedcontrol when said handle member is set to said given position.

9. A zigzag sewing machine according to claim 7, comprising a sleeveaxiallydisplaceable on said control shaft in non-rotatable relationthereto, said set of control.

cams being coaxially fastened to said sleeve, said control shaft havinga free end from which said sleeve with said control cams is removable,and an indicator disc coaxially mounted on said sleeve and havingstitch-pattern indicia coactive with said ring-shaped handle member toindicate the selected stitch pattern.

10. A zigzag sewing machine according to claim 9, comprising springmeans active upon said sleeve and having the tendency to move saidsleeve outwardly on said free end of said'shaft, and manuallyreleasable. latch means for retaining said sleeve in opposition to theforce 'said indicator disc being rotatable on said sleeve relative tosaid cam set and having a radially protruding latch pin, a fixedstructure having a groove into which said pin can enter when, duringinsertion of said sleeve onto said shaft,'said disc is in a givenrotational position, said latch means beingengageable with said pin forpreventing said disc from rotating relative to'said structure when saidsleeve and cam set are latched in said operative cam-set position. a I12. In'a'zigzagsewing machine according to claim 11, said manuallyreleasable latch means comprising a springbiased pawl engageable withsaid latch pin, and a manual release member coactively connected withsaidpawl for disengaging it from said latch pin, whereby actuation ofsaid release member causes ejection of said sleeve to- 'gether with saidcam set and 'said indicator disc when said nng-shaped handle member isplaced in said given position. a T i 13. A zigzag sewing machineaccording tolclaim 7, comprising a'sleeve axially displaceable'on saidcontrol shaft in non-rotatable relation thereto, said set of controlcams being coaxially'fastened to said sleeve, said control 'and havingindicia coactive with said ring-shaped handle 'member to indicate theselectedstitch pattern apin joined with said disc and engageable withsaid selector i cam so as to constitute said means for'axiallydisplacing said cam set on said shaft, a fixed structure having a grooveinto which said pin can enter during insertion of said sleeve onto saidshaft when said discis in a given inserted.

p 14. A zigzagsewing machine according to claim 7, comprising a hollowhousing structure in which said] deflecting mechanism and said feedmechanism are 12 mounted, a ring-shaped hollow frame structure mountedon said housing and protruding therefrom on the opera: tors side of themachine, said ring-shaped handle member being rotatably mounted on saidframe structure, and said lifter cam and said selector cam beingconcentrically fixed to said handle member and'located adjacent theretowithin said frame structure. j 15. In a zigzag sewing machine accordingto claim 14, said' lifter cam and said selector ca-m forming an integralpiece and having an annular shoulder engaging said frame structure so asto rotatably secure said handle member to said frame structure.

16. In a zigzag sewing machine having a housing and ;a needle bar, astitch-pattern control mechanism having a set of coaxially rotatablecontrol cams for automatic control of fancy-stitch patterns and providedwith a cam follower adapted to be operatively connected during operationof. the machine with said needle bar and movable into an active positionin engagement with a selected one of' said cams and intoaninactive'position out of engagement therewith, said set and saidfollowerbeing axially displaceable relative to each other forcamselection, a manually actuable control membermovable in a single path ofplanar motion and having givenpositions of rest spaced from each otheralong said path, stitchpattern indicator means with which said manualmember coacts to indicate difierent stitch patterns in said respectivepositions, said manually actua-ble control member having a manualcontrol knob; mounted at a fixed'location of said housing and beingprovided with control means for effecting a selecting operation of saidfollower relative to said cam set as well as for transferring saidfollower member back and forth between said. active andinactive'positions thereof. 1

' References Cited in the file t this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS VMascherpa Dec.'15','1953 2,907,221- Haupt Oct 6 1959 2,939,336 1960FOREIGN PATENTS V V 783,358 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1957 1,038,887 1Germany Sept. 11', 1958 OTHER REFERENCES German application No.1,011,263, printed June 27,

1957' (KL 52a 9/01).

